5 Keys to Discovering Your Purpose:

Over the past several years, I've had serious doubts about my purpose and whether I'm even doing the right things for God. Even if what I was doing was productive and good, I still found myself wondering if that's the plan God had for me or if I was doing things out of my own will.

I think we all, at some point in our lives, desire to know our purpose. We want to know why God made us and what His plans are. But often, we overcomplicate His will.

What if His desired plan was simpler than we thought?

What if it didn't matter what we did, but more so how and why we were doing it?

What if God can take ordinary tasks and turn them into divine purposes?

Here are 5 keys I've discovered that have helped me navigate if I'm doing God's will. I hope they are helpful and bring you encouragement!

1. Know What God Cares About

Jesus defines the two greatest commandments as "Loving the Lord God with all your heart," and "Loving your neighbor as yourself" ( ). Fulfilling these two commandments = God's will. He calls us to keep Him first and selflessly love others.

Rather than getting caught up in questioning the tasks you're doing, perhaps you should ask yourself, "Am I loving God (keeping Him first) as I do these things, and how can I love others through these actions?"

2. Know Who God Cares About

One of my favorite verses is in James 1: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

Before I met Katie Heese, I was good at keeping myself unstained from the world. Outside pressures didn't tempt or sway me like some. But I didn't have a heart of service to those suffering. Instead, I lived a pretty selfish life.

Katie Heese showed me the true generosity of putting others before yourself. She was (and still is) so good at attending to people's needs and comforting them. She sees past her own agendas and makes time for them.

I love this verse because God reveals that His will is to comfort, visit, and meet the needs of the lowly. Sometimes I think we assume our relationship with God is just about us and Him, but it's not! We are called to help others and serve them - even at our sacrifice.

Whatever you're doing today, ask yourself who around you is suffering and needs to be comforted. Meeting the needs of those in our everyday lives is a part of fulfilling God's will. In fact, this is how we shine our light and be the salt of the world! By uplifting others and not letting outside pressures soften our convictions.

3. Know the Season of Life You're In

Technology and social media have deceived us into believing that everything happens as quickly as lightning. We assume that if God gives us a desire, talent, or gift, we are to immediately step into that calling as soon as it enters our minds. But very rarely is that true.

Instead, God designed our universe to function in seasons.

Seasons are how Solomon describes our world in Ecclesiastes 3: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:"

When I was in college, I struggled to understand why I hadn't met my husband. I was doing all the "right" things: going to church, praying, and growing in my relationship with God. So why hadn't I met him yet?

Well, for starters, my husband is over 3 years younger than me. He was still in high school, and God magically couldn't send him to college until he had graduated.

Although God is outside of time, he operates within our laws of nature. Think of the story of Joseph, Noah, Abraham, Esther, and Jesus. These monumental people in Scripture all played key roles in bringing redemption to humanity, but their pivotal moments weren't throughout their entire lives. Instead, God had assigned them certain tasks at certain moments in history.

And this should act as our framework for discovering our purpose!

I am sure every one of these key characters wondered about their purpose - when God was going to put them in the right place, give them an opportunity (or a son like Abraham), or raise them into glory (like Jesus).

But throughout their mundane, ordinary tasks, God was preparing, molding, and shaping them for their "big" moments.

4. Pray Before Making Decisions & Trust that God will Answer.

Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us the answer to walking a straight path.

1. Trust God with all your heart

2. Do not rely on your understanding of the situation, but on God's

3. Pray before every decision

4. God will show you what to do

I think we assume we only pray for the big decisions, but living a life of certainty means living a life in constant dependence on God.

It is like a child who asks their parents, "Mommy can I do this, can I go here, can I have this?"

In the times I have not sought prayer FIRST, I have deeply regretted it.

If you're doubting your purpose, maybe ask God if you're where he wants you. And if not, ask Him for the courage to change and make it right.

5.Wait Joyfully Until God Says Go.

This is probably one of the hardest ones to do and requires such patience. But it shows us our hearts.

Waiting joyfully is the key to knowing if you're ready to steward well the assignments and tasks God has for you. It allows us to grow, relax, and soak in all the lessons and advice we've experienced along the way.

Reflection:

As you meditate on the devotional today, ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I fulfilling the greatest two commandments in my ordinary moments? If not, how can I start focusing on loving Jesus and people in my everyday?

2. Who in my everyday life needs comfort, support, or encouragement? How can I best serve them to make them feel loved?

3. What season does God have me in? What do I need to focus on (make a list)?

4. What decisions do I need to pray about and trust God more with?

5. How can I wait joyfully - even in the quiet still moments?